Budget cuts, new laws kick in today

Published 8:00 pm, Tuesday, June 29, 2010

HARTFORD

By SUSAN HAIGH

Associated Press

A new loan fund to help small businesses, rules requiring student athletes to leave the game if they show signs of a concussion, and measures to improve failing schools are among a host of new laws set to take effect in Connecticut today.

Medical mistakes made at hospitals will have to be reported to the General Assembly under another new law. Also, the state's Judicial Branch can begin planning for a new pilot program that involves electronic monitoring of serious family violence offenders from courts in Danielson, Hartford and Bridgeport.

Today also marks the start of the new fiscal year and the beginning of the newly revised $19 billion state budget. That plan was partially balanced by a requirement that Gov. M. Jodi Rell's administration to come up with approximately $300 million in spending reductions across state agencies.

"That's an aggressive number and will be a significant challenge to achieve," said Jeffrey Beckham, a spokesman for Rell's budget office.

The 2011 budget was originally approved in September 2009 as part of a two-year plan. It had a $2 billion hole -- $1.3 billion that was supposed to be filled with borrowed money and a $700 million deficit that developed since September.

Other budget changes that take effect today, according to Senate Democrats, include deferring a $100 million payment to the state employee retirement system; cutting $1.5 million from the Office of Legislative Management, which oversees the state Capitol; and scaling back state grants for culture and tourism programs by $241,491.

The new budget does, however, include $1.75 million to allow the state's 18 domestic violence shelters to remain open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The state has also received $1 million in matching federal funds for the shelters.

"With the explosion in the demand for shelter, we are so overextended that we look forward to new funding that will enable us to have advocates onsite and available to the women and children anytime during the day or night," said Sandra Koorejian, executive director of Domestic Violence Services of Greater New Haven.

Only two women's shelters have been able to open around the clock: the Interval House in Hartford and New Britain's Prudence Crandall Center.

Other new laws targeting domestic violence also take effect today. One requires local and regional school boards, as part of their training to certified employees, to provide information on preventing teen dating violence and domestic violence.

"These comprehensive reforms will help strengthen our domestic violence laws, which are already some of the toughest in the nation," Rell said.

The pilot program to track serious domestic violence offenders has already received $140,000 needed to begin on Oct. 1, said Stephen Grant, director of family services for the Judicial Branch.

Officials could monitor about 21 high-risk offenders who had pending family violence cases and were charged with violating a protective or restraining order.

When an offender enters a buffer zone, their potential victim would get a cell phone call from a monitoring center, and an electronic alert from a small alert device they would carry. Grant said that could give the victim time to escape.

The law to protect student athletes requires a coach to immediately take an athlete out of any interscholastic or intramural competition, practice or athletic activity if he or she has been diagnosed with a concussion or shows signs of one after a head or body blow. The athlete cannot return without a medical clearance.

Parts of a far-reaching education reform law aimed at improving the state's chances to receive funding under President Barack Obama's "Race to the Top" education initiative, are set to take effect.

Also taking effect Thursday are job creation measures including a $15 million revolving loan fund for small businesses and nonprofit organizations and funds, and an "angel investor" tax credit program for investors who provide at least $100,000 startup capital to bio-science and information technology businesses.